Managing grain in storage facilities allows a producer to “develop a reputation as the individual from which to purchase grain,” Parker said during the recent Texas Plant Protection Association annual conference in College Station.

“Insect management is one way to achieve that reputation, but it requires attention to all aspects of the stored grain operation,” he said.

Insect damage causes multiple problems including loss of yield through destroyed kernels, reduced quality from insect parts, increased heat (10 to 15 degrees higher), more moisture and mold, odor, additional dust and as much as 5 percent weight loss per year. All those issues may mean a 16 percent loss in market value in just one year.

Design construction for ease of cleaning and tight seal for effective fumigation. Note: construct storage bins so that a pressure can be held for an extended period when sealed for fumigation or have at least one bin for such use.

Apply insecticide to grain as it is loaded into storage after drying. Note: consider protectant use where grain will be stored under warm conditions for more than five months (Actellic + Diacon, Storcide II, and others).

Remove grain peak and “core” round bins.

Apply top-dress insecticide if not used on the rest of the grain.

Aerate to remove harvest heat followed by cooling to 60°F or less (40°F is best).

Monitor grain temperature to find “hot spots” (thermocouples).

Inspect grain for insects once a month when it is cool (less than 60°F) or twice a month (at more than 60°F).

As a general rule apply fumigant when one primary pest or five secondary pests per quart sample of grain are detected. Note: Higher numbers of some insects such as psocids and rusty grain beetle can be tolerated. Note: Wheat may need to be fumigated at one insect per quart sample.

Do not store “new” grain on top of “old” grain. If it must be done apply fumigant to “old” grain first.

He said producers should know the flow rate of the grain to assure proper insecticide application in-stream.

Parker said producers may choose from several products for grain stream treatment. Options include: Actellic for corn and grain sorghum; Storcide II for barley, oats, rice, sorghum and wheat; Diacon II, which is generally not used alone; and Contain. He said a label for spinosad may be on the horizon.

Fumigants include Phosphene gas and Profume.

Protectant tests

Parker said tests on protectant insecticides show:

Actellic was effective on all insects except lesser gain borer.

Diacon II was effective on larval stage of all insects except for weevils.

Combination of Actellic + Diacon II was very effective.

Silicon dioxide was effective but reduced bushel weight and made grain handling more difficult.